Elif Özer

Failure of ureteral replacement with gore-tex tube grafts

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the role of polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) as a ureteral substitute in dogs after resection of a 5 to 8-cm-long middle segment. METHODS Five mongrel dogs underwent resection of the middle segment of the left ureter and segmental replacement of the resected part with segments of Gore-Tex over a double-J catheter. The double-J stents were removed at 21 days and the dogs were evaluated by excretory urography and abdominal ultrasonography 12 weeks after surgery. They were then killed and the ureters and the kidneys examined both grossly and microscopically. RESULTS There was radiologic evidence of advanced hydronephrosis on the left side in all 5 dogs. Grossly, the left kidneys showed marked pelvic and proximal ureteral dilatation and atrophy of parenchyma. Severe stricture at the anastomotic sites and marked fibrous tissue around the prostheses were found. No cellular lining was found in the Gore-Tex lumen. CONCLUSIONS There is no potential for ureteral replacement by Gore-Tex tube graft.

Preservation of shock-wave-induced renal histologic changes by dermatan sulfate

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the protective effects of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) administration on shock-wave-induced renal histologic alterations, an experimental study using dermatan sulfate administration (DS) in rabbits was performed. METHODS The study included 45 white New Zealand rabbits; 36 were divided into two groups before shock-wave application. Animals in the first group (n = 18) received no specific medication before or after shock-wave treatment; animals in the second group (n = 18) received subcutaneous DS administration for a period of 2 months, beginning 2 weeks before shock-wave application. Following different numbers of shock-wave application (500, 1000, or 1500 shock waves), histopathologic evaluation of treated kidneys was made under light microscopy after 24 hours and 3 months. Nine animals were used for the control group. RESULTS During 24-hour examination, most of the kidneys in both groups demonstrated varying degrees of histopathologic alterations, depending on the number of shock waves applied. Among the most prominent pathologic features were protein deposition with free erythrocytes in the tubular lumen, glomerular hemorrhage, tubular dilation and degeneration, protein in Bowmans capsule, hyperemia, and mononuclear cell infiltration at the interstitial level. As opposed to the 24-hour evaluation findings, long-term (3-month) follow-up examination revealed histopathologic alterations that decreased but did not totally disappear in animals receiving no DS. Glomerular basement membrane thickening, mononuclear cell infiltration and limited protein deposition in some tubules, together with cortical interstitial fibrosis, were observed to some extent in these animals. On the other hand, no severe histopathologic alteration with normal glomerular basement membrane appearance was noted in animals receiving DS medication. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated a long-term favorable protective effect of DS administration on morphologic abnormalities in rabbits undergoing shock-wave treatment. Although tubular alterations persisted to some extent, mononuclear cell infiltration has been limited and the natural appearance of the basement membrane has been well preserved in most of the treated animals.

Effect of Cyanoacrylic Glue on Penile Fracture: An Experimental Study

PURPOSE We investigated the effect of Glubran(R)2 cyanoacrylic glue on rat cavernous tissue after forming penile fractures experimentally as well as the histopathological effect. We also investigated its clinical use. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental penile fracture was formed by incising from the proximal dorsal side of the penis in 32 Wistar Albino rats. The rats were randomly assigned to 4 main groups of 8 each. In the control group the incision was not repaired and it was left to secondary healing. In the glue group cyanoacrylic glue was only applied to the incision region. In the primary repair group the incision was primarily repaired and in the final group cyanoacrylic glue was applied to the incision region following primary repair. Three weeks later penectomy materials were examined histopathologically. RESULTS When the control group was compared with the other groups, the differences in cavernous tissue healing with fibrosis and hyperemia-bleeding were statistically significant (p = 0.043 and 0.003, respectively). In the glue group fibrosis was observed in 2 rats. This group was the best according to cavernous healing. Although there was no significant difference between the control group and the other groups according to inflammation (p = 0.057), the glue group was better than the primary repair group (p = 0.026). No significant inflammation or hyperemia-bleeding was observed in the glue group. When the experimental groups were evaluated for histopathological parameters, it was observed that the best results were obtained in the glue group. CONCLUSIONS Cyanoacrylic glue can be used in cavernous surgery due to its hemostatic, adhesive and anti-inflammatory properties.

Duration of renal failure as risk factor for conjunctival squamous metaplasia.

OBJECTIVE To assess ocular surface changes in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), to compare the results with the duration of illness. STUDY DESIGN Impression cytology from 48 patients with CRF on regular hemodialysis and 16 age- and sex-matched control subjects were studied. Specimens were taken from the temporal bulbar conjunctiva using cellulose acetate filter paper. RESULTS Among the patients with CRF who were ill for 0-10 years, 25 patients (78.1%) disclosed grade 0-1, and 7 patients (21.9%) disclosed grade 2-3 cytologic changes, whereas in those with the duration of CRF > 10 years, 9 patients (56.2%) had grade 0-1 and 7 patients (43.8%) had grade 2-3 changes. Specimens from the control group revealed 93.8% grade 0-1 and 6.2% grade 2-3 changes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The ocular surfaces of patients with CRF differ significantly from those of normal individuals, and the severity of conjunctival changes is related to the duration of CRF.

Synchronous bladder and prostate cancers in the specimens of radical cystoprostatectomy: a multicenter retrospective analysis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the features of prostate cancer that have been incidentally detected in radical cystoprostatectomy specimens of bladder cancer patients. The researchers of the current study retrospectively evaluated the data from 119 men who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy at four referral institutions in Ankara, Turkey. Of the 21 prostate cancer patients, 17 (81%) were aged ≥60 years; 10 (47.6%) had clinically significant diseases; three had a Gleason score of 6, three had a Gleason score of 7, three had a Gleason score of 8, one had a positive surgical margin along with extracapsular invasion of the tumor and a high Gleason score, and three patients had a tumor volume of ≥0.5 cm3, of which two also had a high Gleason score. Patients were followed‐up for a mean of 29 ± 10.2 months; the overall survival was 96.6% (n = 115) during that period. Preoperative digital rectal examination and prostate‐specific antigen values did not differ between the benign and prostate cancer groups. There was no survival advantage in the insignificant prostate cancer and benign prostate groups. No additional benefit for predicting prostate cancer was found with digital rectal examination and prostate‐specific antigen tests, although some clinicians advised such. In patients aged < 60 years, organ‐sparing cystectomy seems reasonable. In prostate‐sparing surgery, candidates who are aged >60 years, the preoperative work‐up may routinely include prostate biopsy, especially the apex. Preoperative findings of multifocality of bladder cancers and the presence of carcinoma in situ have the risk of prostatic involvement.

Evaluation of MUC1 and P53 expressions in noninvasive papillary urothelial neoplasms of bladder, their relationship with tumor grade and role in the differential diagnosis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the usability of MUC1 and p53 for differential diagnosis of noninvasive papillary urothelial neoplasias, especially for distinguishing papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP) from low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (LGPUC) when the histologic signs are not obvious. Materials and Methods: Seventeen biopsy specimens of the patients with PUNLMP, 20 with LGPUC and 13 with high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (HGPUC) were stained for MUC1 and p53 protein by immunohistochemical methods. Histological grading was performed according to an algorithm, which allows histological parameters used in 2004 WHO/ISUP 1998. Results: We had obvious statistical difference for aberrant expression pattern of MUC1 between PUNLMP and LGPUC-HGPUC (P = 0.007). Positivity of MUC1 expression in cytoplasm of basal cells was more observed in HGPUC and LGPUC, whereas PUNLMP was more often showing apical and superficial positivity of MUC1 expression (P = 0.001 and 0.011). Nuclear p53 protein in HGPUC was obviously more frequent than that in LGPUC and PUNLMP (P < 0.001). Measures showed statistical difference among aberrant MUC1 expression, p53 overexpression, and tumor grade (P < 0.001). Conclusions: MUC1 and p53 may be helpful immunohistochemical markers for distinguishing PUNLMP from LGPUC and HGPUC, when the histologic signs are not obvious.